Could Zigazoo Be the Brand-Safe, US-based Version of TikTok that Washington Craves? An Interview with CEO Zak Ringelstein (Part 2)

Zigazoo a social media TikToklike challengebased app originally created as a hypersafe environment for the under 13 set has recently launched an over13 version While the under13 version limits social conversation to preset sentences the over13 app allows users to chat but continues the foundational challengebased model Given the very controversial nature of TikTok over national security concerns and brand safety along with recent fines levied against the company in Europe based on alleged violations of children39s privacy a viable alternative could be very appealing to multiple constituencies including advertisers Only time will tell whether Zigazoo can be that alternativeWe are all well aware of the tremendous scale and addictive qualities of TikTok It is a huge phenomenon and has been successful in creating a new generation of social media stars who do not hesitate to hype the brands they love or are paid to love many quite effectively And with their recently implemented shopping platform TikTok is a textbook formula for a siren39s call that agencies and marketers cannot resist A recent survey conducted by The Myers Report seems to confirm this with only 25 of agency survey respondents saying that they actively caution their clients not to invest in TikTok while 109 said that their clients will not advertise on TikTok based on privacy concernsGiven the current geopolitical climate and deteriorating relations of the West with China TikTok39s provenance is a major issue for many governments In the US senior officials on both sides of the political spectrum have called TikTok a national security threat A July 2023 study conducted by Pew Research Center showed that 59 of Americans agree with that assessmentThe list of entities that are banning TikTok continues to grow From public universities in Texas Florida Oklahoma Arizona Georgia Alabama Idaho Indiana Mississippi and Tennessee to stateowned devicesservers in Alabama Arkansas Florida Nebraska North Dakota South Dakota North Carolina South Carolina Maryland Indiana Texas Tennessee Oklahoma Utah Iowa Idaho New Hampshire Georgia Virginia Montana Louisiana Kansas Ohio New Jersey New York City and Wisconsin to governmentowned devices at the Federal level in the US Canada the UK Belgium Australia Denmark India New Zealand Norway Somalia and Taiwan TikTok is being blocked on servers TikTok is also banned from any business phone owned by contractors working with the US Federal governmentTaking it a step further the state of Montana passed legislation banning TikTok on all personal devices That ban is set to go in effect in January 2024 but is being challenged in courtCompanies such as Delta and Southwest airlines have banned TikTok for their employees both on companyowned devices and any personal devices that connect to company systemsWhile a federal ban on TikTok in the US seems unlikely due to the potential political ramifications with the under 35 set the entrance of alternatives such as Zigazoo may if embraced by a large enough audience go far in alleviating the risks that TikTok surfacesI discussed much of this with Zigazoo39s CEO Zak Ringelstein Please enjoy and share this episode of Media MetaverseClick the social buttons to share this story with colleagues and friendsThe opinions expressed here are the author39s views and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillageorgMyersBizNet

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Could Zigazoo Be the Brand-Safe, US-based Version of TikTok that Washington Craves? An Interview with CEO Zak Ringelstein (Part 2)

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Jeff Minsky

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Could Zigazoo Be the Brand-Safe, US-based Version of TikTok that Washington Craves? An Interview with CEO Zak Ringelstein (Part 2)

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